The perfect 16-day vacation for those who wish to see traditional Europe. If offers much more than just the basics: all major cities have sightseeing, including a canal cruise in Amsterdam, and visits to St. Paul’s in London, to St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum in Rome, and Michelangelo’s David in Florence. Other features are a Eurostar ride between London and Brussels, a romantic Rhine cruise, a private boat transfer in Venice, scenic drives through the Black Forest, the Swiss and Tyrolean Alps, Brenner Pass, and more. An overnight stay at the Côte d’Azur gives you the opportunity to visit Monte Carlo. In Paris you’ll visit the second floor of the Eiffel Tower during your sightseeing tour. A whole day at leisure gives you the possibility to visit the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Museum. You’ll see it all!

Day 1

Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in London, England

Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3 London

Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL (except on Sundays) and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Optional excursions are available. (FB)

Day 4 London–Brussels, Belgium–Amsterdam, Holland

Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and transfer to the railway station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, Belgium. From here a comfortable drive will bring you to Amsterdam, Holland. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (FB,D)

Day 5 Amsterdam

A Local Guide shows you the 700-year-old capital, and the highlight is a CANAL CRUISE to see the patrician mansions, gabled façades, and humpback bridges. Next visit a major DIAMOND CENTER and appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Balance of the day is at leisure, and later you may wish to join an optional excursion to Volendam. (BB)

Day 6 Amsterdam–Heidelberg–Rhineland, Germany

A passing glance at the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Germany. Stop in Cologne to visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL. Then the afternoon’s highlight: a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and trim, half-timbered towns. Next stop is Heidelberg, famous for its red-walled castle. (BB,D)

Day 7 Rhineland–Lucerne, Switzerland

A scenic day! Morning stop in the lush valleys and pineclad hills of the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border take your pictures of the thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picture-book Lucerne. (BB,D)

Day 8 Lucerne–Liechtenstein–Innsbruck, Austria

Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT, walk through the Old Town, and cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Time to shop for Swiss watches or climb lofty Mount Pilatus. Then leave Switzerland, stop in the Principality of Liechtenstein, and continue to Innsbruck in the Austrian Tyrol. Take pictures of Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. (BB,D)

Day 9 Innsbruck–Venice, Italy

The spectacular Brenner Pass leads through the barrier of the Tyrolean Alps to Italy. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Admire the byzantine Basilica, the Clock Tower, lavish Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects, then time to explore or to join an optional gondola ride. (BB,D)

Day 10 Venice–Rome

A scenic drive across the Apennine Mountains and through the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan hills, home of the popular Chianti wines, brings you to the Eternal City. (BB)

Day 11 Rome

Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Time for independent activities and optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 12 Rome–Florence–Tuscany

An easy morning drive back north to Florence. Follow your Local Guide to visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and SIGNORIA SQUARE. Later, take a moment to check out the enticing shops with Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)

Day 13 Tuscany–Pisa–Nice, France

Focus on Pisa this morning for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Then follow the Mediterranean coast past a string of Italian and French Riviera resorts to Nice. An optional outing is available to Monte Carlo. (BB)

Day 14 Nice–Paris

Transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed “TGV” TRAIN to Paris. You may wish to try out one of Paris’ fine restaurants. (BB)

Day 15 Paris

Discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most famous sights: the Opéra, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Elysées. For a bird’s-eye view take the elevator to the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark, the EIFFEL TOWER. An optional excursion to the baroque Palace of Versailles is available, and tonight a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (BB)

Day 16

Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (BB)

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PRICES
From approx $3,099 US per person double occupancy